I've been using 2N5088's in both my EM Drive and my Paramount. I tried an MPSA18 today, and it was gated and splatty, like some others have indicated. I tried a 2N3904 in my Paramount, and it was lower gain. I might like that in the EM drive since it has more gain due to the lack of the tone control. I have not tried it there yet. But in the Paramount, I preferred the 2N5088.

I've built both the EM Drive and the Paramount, and I am finding both pedals to be quite hissy. Would metal film resistors improve the noise floor? Both resistors, or is one of them more likely to be the culprit than the other? I don't have any metal films, so before I order, I want to get some opinions.